Katrina is one of many hurricanes, which has thrown its wiehgt around in the Gulf Coast states these past few months. People throughout Louisiana and Mississppi are handling the situation as well as they possibly can by evacuating and finding safe places to stay.

Many even went to the Superdome in New Orleans as homes and other buildings were destroyed. While we were defenseless when Katrina came, there are ways we can help the victims.

Voluntary organizations are seeking cash donations to assist the victims, according to Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. Volunteers should not report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency.

For further information, please visit the Web site for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at http://www.nvoad.org/.

We hope everyone gets better as soon as possible and are able to weather the storm.

As many have endured much hardship over the recent hurricanes, this should be a sign for us to do more to prepare for the next hurricane. We hope it is a long time away, but if it comes soon, we need to be ready.

There cannot be too many donations for Hurricane Katrina. If there are leftover donations, those funds could be set aside for the next hurricane.

We applaud all of the people and organizations who have acted swiftly and taken spur-of-the-moment action to provide disaster relief. We would be lost without you.

The toughest times are what tests the character of individuals. Volunteer organizations have passed the test with flying colors.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured or had property damaged by Hurricane Katrina.